Mascara container and applicator



mama in. 2a, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I ransom coma iizfiznnsrrhrcaroa I Frank L. Engel, Jr., Chicago, 111., assignor, by

mesne assignments mo, Ill.

, to William a1 Boyd, oni- Application May 6, 1937, Serial No. 141,186

10 Clam. (Cl. 132-79) The present invention relates to a mascaracontainer and applicator, and has for its primary object the provisionof a new and improved container and applicator that are compact inconstruction, easy to carry and so arranged that the mascara may bereadily and conveniently used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container that ispleasing in appearance, easy and inexpensive to manufacture and which,be-

, cause of its inexpensiveness, may be discarded after the mascara hasbeen consumed.

A more specific object of the present invention I is to provide acylindrical container adapted to contain a tubular cake of mascara, andcomprising a removably mounted closure member carrying an applicatorbrush that extends into the central opening of the tubular cake when theclosure member is positioned to close the container, the closure memberconstituting a handle whereby the brush may be manipulated for obtainingthe deposit of a suitable amount of mascara thereon, and for applyingthe mascara directly to the eyelashes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mascara containerhaving a venting means so constructed and arranged that any liquidremaining in the container after an application of mascara is evaporatedby contact with air, but leakage of the liquid'from within the containeris prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mascara applicator brushthat is suitably not only for applying the mascara to the eyelashes, butalso for combing the latter, and so constructed as to give the user agreater control over the amount of mascara applied.

Further objectsand advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the ensuing description, in the course of which referenceis had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a container embodying the novel features ofthe present invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 with the combinedclosure member and applicator withdrawn from the container.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along the line33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an-end view of the device shown in Fig. 1, and

' Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of construction.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the container of the presentinvention is indicated generally by reference numeral II). This container comprises a cylindrical shell 12, closed at one end by a bottomIt, formed integrally therewith, and at its opposite end by a removable'closure member, or cap, it. The cap I6 is made with an internaldiameter corresponding to the outer diameter of shell l2, so that itfits snugly around the latter and is not likely to be separatedtherefrom. The movement of the cap toward the bottom of the shell islimited by an outwardly extending bead l8, located a slight distancefrom the open end of the shell.

Within the container is mounted a tubular cake 20, 01 mascara made inaccordance with well known principles from either a soap or an oil base,in which suitable coloring material is incorporated. Castile soap, whichis a soap base, or carnauba wax and stearic acid, which are oil bases,may be used.

Mascara made from these bases may be molded to form tubular cakes havingan outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the shell l2.The cakes, when dry, are relatively hard and may, therefore, be insertedbodily within the shell to which they are secured by a slight amount ofsuitable bonding material, such as glue. However, the cakes may be heldin place by friction time if so desired From Fig. 3 it may be noted thatthe cake is made with a length such that it extends from the bottom I4of the shell to approximately the bead l8,

The mascara is applied to the eyelashes by a cylindrical brush 22,mounted at the lower end of a. wire support 24, secured to the innerside of the cap l6 by mechanical means, or by solder 26. The support 24consists of a pair of twisted wires between which the bristles fromwhich brush 22 is made are secured. The wire is preferably made ofmetal, such as Monel, that is not affected chemically by moisture andmascara.

The brush is made of relatively soft bristles arranged in spiral formwith the adjacent convolutions thereof closely spaced. Ithas been foundthat a brush constructed in this manner is eminently suitable for theapplication of mascara to the eyelashes because it acts as a comb,

half that of the tubular cake 20, into the central opening of which itextends. The length of the 2 support 24 is designed so that the brushextends substantially to the bottom of the container when the cap 16 is,in place. When the cap I6 is removed from its closing position theentire surface of the brush 22 may be contacted with the mascara withinthe container.

In the application of mascara made in cake form from soap or oil bases,it is necessary to wet the cake before the mascara adheres to the brush.Consequently when the brush is wetted for application and then insertedwithin the container after use, there is a possibility that some of theliquid may be entrained in the bristles. If no provision were made forthe evaporation of this liquid it would then dissolve the mascara,particularly because of the close spacing between the mascara and brush.

The container is, therefore, provided with venting means comprising asmall diameter opening 28, located centrally of the bottom 14. Theleakage of liquid through this opening is prevented by making thecentral portion 30 of the bottom convex in shape. According to thisconstruction the opening 28 is raised a short distance above the planeof the bottom l4, and provides an arrangement whereby, when liquidcollects in the bottom, the capillary action of the liquid prevents itfrom flowing through the opening. From the above description it isapparent that liquid entrained in the bristles, or otherwise collectingin the container, can not escape from the latter to soil purses, or thelike, inwhich the container is usually carried. i

In the modified form of construction shown in Fig. 5, the entire cake ofmascara is adapted to be contacted by the brush 22 when the cap isremoved from its container closing position. This modification thusprovides a construction in which the entire cake'of mascara may beconsumed before the container is discarded.

The container illustrated in Fig. is identical in construction with theone previously described with the exception 'of the fact that the shellI2 is provided with an inwardly extending bead 34 displaced a distancefrom the bottom l4 approximately equal to the distance between the beadl8 and the open end of the shell.

The tubular cake 36 of mascara is somewhatshorter than the previouslydescribed cake 20, and its lower end rests against the bead 34. It, likecake 2!], may be secured either by glue or friction to the side wall ofshell l2.

In the application of the mascara to the eyelashes, the cap I6 is firstremoved by grasping it in the fingers. The cap thus provides a covenient handle for the brush 22 whereby the latter may be firstmoistened by dipping it in a liquid, preferably water, and thencontacted with the inside of the. tubular cake of mascara. To obtain aneven coating of mascara on the brush, the cap may be rotated between thefingers.

Thereafter the mascara may be applied directly to the eyelashes, eitherby a rotary or reciprocating movement of the brush. Because of itscylindrical shape the brush is adapted to carry a considerable amount ofmascara so that it does not need to be brushed against the mascara cakeas often as would otherwise be necessary. The brush also acts as a combto separate the eyelashes because" of the spiral arrangement of thebristles thereon.

enter the container through the vent 28. The liquid collecting in thecontainer can not escape therefrom because of the arrangement of thevent on the convex portion 30 of the bottom, and

the container is, therefore, practically soil-proof.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with the specificdetails of a preferred embodiment and a modification thereof, it shouldbe understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to suchdetails except insofar as set forth in the accompanying claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In combination, a hollow cake of relatively hard mascara, a containerfor said cake, said cake being secured inside said container, a closuremember for said container, and a brush configured to fit into the hollowof said cake secured to said member, said brush being of such length andso secured to said member that it extends into the hollow of said cakewhen said member is positioned to close said container, and that it canbe manipulated to contact the surface of the cake of mascara when theclosure member is moved to container opening position, whereby mascaramay be transferred to the brush, and that it can be manipulated directlyto transfer the mascara therefrom to the eyelashes.

2. In combination, a relatively long tubular cake of relatively hardmascara of the type that requires wetting prior to application toeyelashes,

a cylindrical container for said cake, said container having an open endand an internal diameter such that the cake may be inserted into andsecured within the container, a-closure member for said open end of thecontainer adapted readily to be grasped by one hand of the user of themascara, and a brush secured to said closure member by supportingstructure-said brush being made in substantially cylindrical shape ofbristles arranged spirally, and said brush and supporting structurehaving lengths and diameters such that when the closure'member ispositioned to close the container the brush extends into the centralopening of the cake of mascara, and when the closure member is moved outof container closing position the brush may be wetted, then reinsertedpart way into the container into contact with the surface of the cake ofmascara for the transfer of the mascara to the brush, and thereaftermanipulated to transfer the mascara directly to the eyelashes.

3. In combination, a hollow cake of mascara made of mrterials that mustbe moistened for application, a container for said cake, a closuremember for said container, a brush secured to said closure member andadapted to extend into the hollow of said cake when said member ispositioned to close said container for applying the mascara directly tothe lashes, and means providing a passage for air into said containerfor evaporating any liquid remaining in the container after anapplication of mascara .and for preventing leakage of. liquid outsidethe container.

4. In combination, a tubular cake of mascara made of materials that mustbe moistened for application, a cylindrical container, a removableclosure member for one end of said container, a brush secured to saidclosure member for applying the mascara directly to the eyelashes, saidbrush being made in a substantially cylindrical shape of bristlesarranged in spiral fashion and having a diameter and length such thatwhen the closure member is positioned to close the container it extendsto the opposite end of the container through the opening in the tubularcake, and an integral closure for the other end of said containerprovided with an apertured convex central portion whereby air maycirculate within the container to evaporate any liquid remaining thereinafter an application of the mascara and the liquid is prevented fromescaping from within the container.

5. In combination, a cylindrical container, a tubular cake oi mascarasecured within the container intermediate the ends thereof, a capfitting around the container and removably mounted at one end thereoffor closing said container, and a brush secured to said cap and adaptedto, extend through the opening in said tubular cake when the cap ispositioned to close the container, said cake being spaced from the endof the container opposite said cap a distance substantially equal to thedistance the cap and container are in engagement when the cap ispositioned to close the container.

6. In combination, a cylindrical container, a tubular cake of mascarasecured within the'container intermediate the ends thereof, a capfitting around the container and removably mounted at one end thereoffor closing said container, a brush secured to said cap and adapted toextend through the opening in said tubular cake when the cap ispositioned to close the container, said cake being spaced from the endof the container opposite said cap a distance substantially equal to thedistance the cap and container are in engagement when the capis'positioned to close the container, and said container being providedwith a vent.

'1. In combination, a container open at one end, a hollow cake ofmascara secured within the container, means removably mounted upon theopen end of said container, a brush secured to said means and adapted toextend into the opening in said hollow cake when said means is mountedupon the open end of the container,

said cake being spaced from the closed end of the may be contacted bysaid brush when removed said means and adapted to extend into the hol-'low of said cake when said means is mounted upon the open end of thecontainer, said cake being spaced a relatively short distance from theopen end of the container and a distance from the opposite end such thatthe entire cake may be contacted by said brush when removed from itsmounted position.

9. In combination, a container open at one end, a hollow cake of mascarasecured within the container, means removably mounted upon the open endof said container, a brush secured to said means and adapted to extendinto the hollow of said cake when said means is mounted upon the openend of the container, said cake being spaced a relatively short distancefrom the open end of the container and a distance from the opposite endsuch that the entire cake may be contacted by said brush when removedfrom its mounted position, and said opposite end being "provided with avent.

10. In combination, a container open at one end, a cake of mascarasecured therein, said cake being dimensioned and shaped to define alongitudinal passage within said container, means removably mounted onthe open end of said container, and a brush configured to fit into saidpassage secured to said means, said brush being of such length and sosecured to said means that it extends into said passage when the meansis positioned to close said container, and that it can be manipulated tocontact the surface of the cake of mascara when said means is moved intocontainer opening position, whereby mascara may be transferred to thebrush, and that it can be manipulated directly to transfer the mascaratherefrom to the eyelashes.

FRANK L. ENGEL, Ja.

